3 communities may be voting on booze

Liquor bottles may soon be on the shelves in three rural Nova Scotia communities for the first time since 1929.

Cambridge, Maitland and Tidnish are currently classified as "dry," meaning they're not allowed to sell liquor.

Local businesses have recently applied to act as agency stores for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation. But before that can happen, a plebiscite has to be held in each community.

"We've requested that they do that as soon as possible, because if they're successful obviously those agency stores would like to be able to take part in the tourist season," said Ernie Fage, minister responsible for the corporation.

A spokesperson for the chief electoral officer, who's responsible for setting up plebiscites, says voting dates cannot be set until this sitting of the legislative assembly wraps up.

The liquor corporation will be responsible for covering the cost of conducting the votes.

There have been several alcohol-related plebiscites in Nova Scotia in the last few years.

People in Clark's Harbour, on Cape Sable Island, voted last July to end prohibition in their community. A week later, the community of Little Narrows voted to allow beer sales.